![LV= Cup [Anglo-Welsh]](images/LV Cup 2011 SB.jpg)
LONDON 7s 2016
SCOTLAND scored two tries in the final minute to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and ensure that their first-ever Cup final appearance on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series ended in celebration, breaking South African hearts in the process with a 27-26 victory.
The Scots, who had earlier beaten hosts England and defending HSBC London Sevens champions USA to reach the final, looked out of it after Rosko Specman raced away to score his second try to put South Africa 26-15 ahead, but then came the remarkable finish.
First they created space for Dougie Fife to score in the final minute to keep their hopes alive and then managed to win the restart, keeping their composure with good work from James Fleming and captain Scott Wight before Fife saw his chance, rounding the defence to spark the celebrations.
Scotland had edged a tight first half 10-7 after tries from Jamie Farndale and Wight, the latter coming from the unusual sight of a driving maul, but tries in quick succession from Speckman and Cecil Afrika looked to have swung the final in South Africa's favour. James Fleming and Specman then traded tries, but few in the Twickenham crowd knew what an exciting finish they were in for.
"I'm ecstatic, it hasn’t really sunk in at the moment," admitted Wight, who revealed Scotland had had photos of recent Cup winners Kenya and Samoa on the wall all week as motivation. "We were a long way behind in the final but the boys stuck on task and we managed to get over the line at the end. It took a massive amount of effort and I'm honoured to say I'm captain of this side."
Scotland's win means there have been six different winners in 10 rounds this season with series champions Fiji and New Zealand winning three each and South Africa, Kenya, and Samoa also one. Fiji had already wrapped up a second successive series title on Saturday by simply reaching the Cup quarter-finals, but they had to settle for fourth place in London after losing Madison Hughes' try gave USA a 26-19 victory.
South Africa and New Zealand finish second and third in the standings behind Fiji to claim a coveted top three seeding for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. At the other end of the table, Portugal were relegated and will be replaced by Japan as a core team in 2016-17.
NEW ZEALAND OVERPOWER ARGENTINA TO LIFT THE PLATE
Having beaten hosts England in the Plate semi-final, New Zealand went on to beat Argentina 29-14 and finish the series with one more piece of silverware. The two sides drew 14-14 on day one in the pool stages and in the final it was Argentina who took the initiative with a try through Javier Rojas. Sir Gordon Tietjens's side struck back immediately with Teddy Stanaway dropping off the back of a lineout then running under the posts. With seconds left in the first half, rookie of the year nominee Regan Ware gave the All Blacks Sevens a slender 12-7 advantage. Rieko Ioane scored his 10th try of the tournament early in the second half, before Argentina's athletic Axel Muller cut the deficit to three points. Gillies Kaka and Pita Ahki both scored in quick succession to secure New Zealand's second Plate of the series.
WALES FINISH ON A HIGH WITH BOWL VICTORY
In a repeat match of their Pool B clash from day one, Wales overcame Australia 24-19 in the Bowl final. Having beaten Wales 22-10 on day one, it was Australia who struck first through John Porch, but Rhodri Williams was able to strike back quickly to level the scores going into the break. Wales captain Luke Treharne sped over for a try early in the second half, but it was Australia who were able to bounce back through the powerful Tom Kingston. A brace of tries from Ben Roach and James Benjamin sealed the win for Wales, but not before Pama Fou got one back for Andy Friend's side.
KENYA FINISH SERIES WITH SHIELD WIN AT TWICKENHAM
They may have tasted Cup victory in Singapore but at Twickenham Kenya finished their 2015-16 campaign with a Shield win against Russia. It was Kenya who started off strongly with tries from Willy Ambaka and record breaker Collins Injera, who went over for his side's second try shortly after Russian powerhouse Denis Simplikevich was given a yellow card for foul play. Nelson Oyoo added a third shortly after, before Injera went over for Kenya's fourth try and his 235th to put his side 26-0 ahead before the break. Russian playmaker Ramil Gaysin scored his team's only try of the match early in the second half, before Oyoo bagged his second and confirmed the Shield win for Kenya.
ENGLAND and South Africa win all three of their matches on day one of the HSBC London Sevens while Fiji claim a second successive series title by reaching the Cup quarter-finals at Twickenham.
Despite losing their opening match 31-10 to England, 42-5 and 26-0 wins over Wales and Australia, Fiji booked their place in the last eight and confirmed their status as series champions with an insurmountable lead at the top of the standings.
After the impressive win over Fiji, the hosts, England, went on to beat Australia 10-7 and Wales 24-5 to remain unbeaten on day one at Twickenham. Simon Amor's side will face Scotland in the Cup quarter-finals while France await Fiji.
South Africa were the only other side to win all three of their pool matches at Twickenham, with victories over Canada, USA and last week's champions Samoa who finished bottom of Pool A. Neil Powell's side will meet Argentina in the last eight, a repeat of the HSBC Cape Town Sevens final.
POOL A
1 
2 
3 
4 
POOL B
1 
2 
3 
4 
POOL C
1 
2 
3 
4 
POOL D
1 
2 
3 
4 
Elsewhere France topped Pool C after beating Portugal, Kenya and drawing with Scotland and defending London champions USA reached the last eight on points difference after a 12-12 draw with North American rivals Canada. Mike Friday's side will play New Zealand who topped Pool D on points difference after ending their day with a 14-14 draw with Los Pumas.
It was a special day too for Collins Injera who scored four tries to overtake Santiago Gomez Cora at the top of the all-time leading try scorer chart. Having received the ball from his brother Humphrey Kayange, Injera scored his 231st try before running into the crowd to give his mum and dad his playing jersey.
"It is an amazing feeling. Rugby sevens has always been special to me," said Injera. "I have played this game since high school. When I started out I wanted to go for the record and now that I have done it, it's a huge thing for me.
"Getting the final pass from my brother, the person I started out playing this game with is a huge honour for me. He mentored me a lot when growing up, telling me what to do and what not to do when playing, so to finally do it in Twickenham is very very special for me.
"I have been chasing the dream for a while and it's finally been realised. It's special for me and for my family, they have been there for life supporting this team through and through."
Samsung have unveiled the latest innovation in sports viewing, the Samsung Slider. Rugby fans will be offered a chance to get closer to the action than ever before at Twickenham Stadium on the 21st and 22nd May, as the Samsung Slider makes an appearance at the HSBC London Sevens.
A UK first, the Samsung Slider is a state of the art four person mobile seating unit that offers an innovative new way for fans to enjoy the match. Travelling up and down the pitch from try line to try line on an 80m custom built track, the Slider will reach speeds of up to 20mph to ensure that those lucky enough to be riding it will never miss a moment of the game.
SATURDAY 21st MAY 2016 |
|||||||
1 |
09:30 |
FRANCE |
14-14 |
SCOTLAND |
POOL C |
||
2 |
09:52 |
KENYA |
22-17 |
PORTUGAL |
POOL C |
||
3 |
10:14 |
SAMOA |
5-12 |
USA |
POOL A |
||
4 |
10:36 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
21-7 |
CANADA |
POOL A |
||
5 |
10:58 |
ARGENTINA |
22-12 |
RUSSIA |
POOL D |
||
6 |
11:20 |
NEW ZEALAND |
31-0 |
BRAZIL |
POOL D |
||
7 |
11:42 |
AUSTRALIA |
22-10 |
WALES |
POOL B |
||
8 |
12:04 |
FIJI |
10-31 |
ENGLAND |
POOL B |
||
9 |
12:36 |
FRANCE |
45-14 |
PORTUGAL |
POOL C |
||
10 |
12:58 |
KENYA |
12-14 |
SCOTLAND |
POOL C |
||
11 |
13:20 |
SAMOA |
19-24 |
CANADA |
POOL A |
||
12 |
13:42 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
14-10 |
USA |
POOL A |
||
13 |
14:04 |
ARGENTINA |
28-7 |
BRAZIL |
POOL D |
||
14 |
14:26 |
NEW ZEALAND |
33-10 |
RUSSIA |
POOL D |
||
15 |
14:48 |
FIJI |
42-5 |
WALES |
POOL B |
||
16 |
15:10 |
AUSTRALIA |
7-10 |
ENGLAND |
POOL B |
||
17 |
15:42 |
SCOTLAND |
31-14 |
PORTUGAL |
POOL C |
||
18 |
16:04 |
FRANCE |
29-12 |
KENYA |
POOL C |
||
19 |
16:26 |
USA |
12-12 |
CANADA |
POOL A |
||
20 |
16:48 |
SAMOA |
0-22 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
POOL A |
||
21 |
17:10 |
RUSSIA |
14-5 |
BRAZIL |
POOL D |
||
22 |
17:32 |
ARGENTINA |
14-14 |
NEW ZEALAND |
POOL D |
||
23 |
17:54 |
FIJI |
26-0 |
AUSTRALIA |
POOL B |
||
24 |
18:16 |
ENGLAND |
24-5 |
WALES |
POOL B |
||
SUNDAY 22nd MAY 2016 |
|||||||
25 |
09:45 |
CANADA |
19-7 |
BRAZIL |
BOWL QF |
||
26 |
10:07 |
KENYA |
19-21 |
WALES |
BOWL QF |
||
27 |
10:29 |
RUSSIA |
17-22 |
SAMOA |
BOWL QF |
||
28 |
10:51 |
AUSTRALIA |
17-12 |
PORTUGAL |
BOWL QF |
||
29 |
11:31 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
21-19 |
ARGENTINA |
CUP QF |
||
30 |
11:35 |
FRANCE |
7-40 |
FIJI |
CUP QF |
||
31 |
11:57 |
NEW ZEALAND |
14-42 |
USA |
CUP QF |
||
32 |
12:19 |
ENGLAND |
0-17 |
SCOTLAND |
CUP QF |
||
33 |
12:51 |
BRAZIL |
5-38 |
KENYA |
SHIELD SF |
||
34 |
13:13 |
RUSSIA |
26-7 |
PORTUGAL |
SHIELD SF |
||
35 |
13:35 |
CANADA |
17-21 |
WALES |
BOWL SF |
||
36 |
13:57 |
SAMOA |
21-22 |
AUSTRALIA |
BOWL SF |
||
37 |
14:19 |
ARGENTINA |
31-5 |
FRANCE |
PLATE SF |
||
38 |
14:41 |
NEW ZEALAND |
35-10 |
ENGLAND |
PLATE SF |
||
39 |
15:03 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
26-21 |
FIJI |
CUP SF |
||
40 |
15:25 |
USA |
17-24 |
SCOTLAND |
CUP SF |
||
41 |
16:17 |
KENYA |
31-7 |
RUSSIA |
SHIELD FINAL |
||
42 |
16:45 |
WALES |
24-19 |
AUSTRALIA |
BOWL FINAL |
||
43 |
17:13 |
ARGENTINA |
14-29 |
NEW ZEALAND |
PLATE FINAL |
||
44 |
17:41 |
FIJI |
19-26 |
USA |
BRONZE |
||
45 |
18:15 |
SOUTH AFRICA |
26-27 |
SCOTLAND |
CUP FINAL |
||
POOL A |
POOL B |
POOL C |
POOL D |
THE 2015-16 men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series will be remembered as a very special and compelling series for many reasons and as the road to Rio 2016 enters the home straight with the HSBC London Sevens, it has also been confirmed as a record-breaker.
The 10-stop grand prix series that takes in some of the world’s most iconic cities has been the most competitive, best-attended, most-viewed and most socially-engaged to date, providing a strong springboard as the world’s top men’s players set their sights on the Olympic Games.
In London this weekend the series champions will be determined, having the honour of heading to Rio 2016 as the current series champions and favourites tag. The competition has been fierce all series with five separate winners in the nine rounds to date (including Kenya’s first-ever series win), while two teams – Fiji and South Africa – can mathematically lift the coveted series trophy.
Attendances have rapidly increased since rugby sevens was confirmed on the Olympic programme in 2009. The 2014-15 series, which doubled as Olympic qualification, was attended by more than 560,000 fans, but with exciting new destinations added to the calendar, sevens’ high-octane competition and festival atmosphere has proven a hit with fans across all 10 destinations, with more than 640,000 attending across the 2015-16 series so far (already a series record), averaging 70,000 per event.
The series is also proving to be a hit with broadcasters and has been broadcast in more markets than ever before, with growth markets including the United States (where NBC’s coverage of the Las Vegas Sevens was watched by more than 1.5million viewers) and China where Alisports and CCTV broadcast the series for the first time. The 2015-16 series has also generated more than 6,000 hours of coverage so far in more than 100 territories across the globe.
The compelling and competitive action has taken off in the social environment with 250,000 new followers across all platforms and 45 million video views (250 per cent increase on 2014-15). It has been the most socially-engaged series ever, whetting the appetite for the Olympic Games on official platforms including @worldrugby7s on Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram.
So far, more than 1.7 million unique users have accessed Seven Series information via the website resulting in 16 million page views, while 10,000 fans have played in the Rugby 7Stars fantasy game over the duration of the 2015-16 series, averaging 25 minutes per session.
World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: “From the stadium to the sofa, rugby sevens continues to reach, engage and inspire new audiences in record numbers and these strong figures really show the excitement across the global rugby family ahead of the Olympic Games.
“The HSBC London Sevens promises to be a fitting climax to what has been the most competitive series ever and while there is a title to be decided between the teams at the top of the standings, the likes of Samoa, Argentina, Kenya, France and USA have all demonstrated that they are in great form as we enter the final straight to Rio 2016. It is going to be compelling viewing.”
AFTER nine enthralling rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, the season reaches its climax this weekend. On the eve of the HSBC London Sevens at Twickenham the final squads have been confirmed for the 16 competing teams.
With much talk about Jarryd Hayne since his move from the San Francisco 49ers to join up with the series leaders Fiji this week, the former NRL and NFL star comes in as a late injury replacement alongside Masivesi Dakuwaqa, replacing Vatemo Ravouvou and Pio Tuwai who were ruled out by the Tournament Team Doctor.
Fiji, who make three changes from the side that lost to Samoa in the final of the HSBC Paris Sevens, need just eight points to claim the series title which they would secure by booking their place in the Cup quarter-finals on day one.
"I think with the Olympics coming up, and also the curiosity to playing the game, being half Fijian it (rugby sevens) is something I've followed since I was a kid," said Hayne.
"My Dad is Fijian and we watched a lot of Serevi games, and William Ryder was a big idol of mine. I have always dreamt about playing sevens for Fiji and I've been given the opportunity.
"It is a team that plays with a lot of spirit and a lot of faith. You don't really see that in teams around the globe. I've played for many different teams at the highest level and Fiji is a special nation and a special country to play for."
Ryan added: "We always had a plan to mix things up. We got to this point as a team, psychologists talk about this, and we were at a point where I just saw a little bit of halting, we weren't still picking it up. I thought the boys needed a bit of added competition and that came from France, and it has also come from San Francisco.
"Jarryd is our latest, he has trained well, (it's a) massive learning curve for him but he has settled in well and he is used to that Fijian side of things off the field when he was with Fiji Bati so that hasn't been an issue at all. He brings a professionalism obviously, and we already have that. We have boys that are at that level where they are self-reliant, self-sufficient and I trust all of them.
"But he comes in from a different angle, he has a great background in rugby league and another professional sport at the highest level. In attack he is comfortable on the ball, he has good spatial awareness and has good footwork. In defence he is a good tackler. It is the shape in defence, the breakdown skills, the finer arts and of course the engine, he is not going to have the same fitness as our boys have got but he's had a good week with us."
Elsewhere Marcus Watson returns to the England side for the first time this season having been named in the Team GB training squad. They also welcome back Dan Norton, Phil Burgess and Tom Mitchell for their home tournament where they face Fiji, Australia and Wales in a familiar looking pool.
Rugby World Cup 2015 star Juan Imhoff joins Matias Moroni and Santiago Cordero for Argentina, while DJ Forbes misses out on selection for the All Blacks Sevens and therefore remains tied with Uale Mai on a record 79 series events. Tim Mikkelson returns in place of Dylan Collier and will captain the All Blacks Sevens.
One record that could be broken this weekend is that of the all-time top try scorer with Collins Injera of Kenya just three tries behind Santiago Gomez Cora's record of 230. Interestingly Injera scored his 200th career try at Twickenham last year, and also scored his first-ever try in London.
